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Date: 4/5/2022
HADLEY – Residents of Hadley may have seen a minor increase in traffic on Route 9 this week as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the town began the preliminary stages of the Route 9 project.
Tree work began on April 4 to clear spaces along Route 9 for construction on old water and sewage lines, as well as the future implementation of new telephone poles.
Town Administrator Carolyn Brennan said this was the beginning of a project that could stretch into 2026 as Hadley, in collaboration with MassDOT, will be replacing 60- to 70-year-old water and sewage lines on Route 9.
“It’s going to be great for us,” said Brennan who noted this issue has been a priority for the town to address and replace the old lines.
MassDOT spokesperson Judith Reardon Riley shared that the roadway reconstruction and related work, including signals, on Route 9 is a $28.9 million investment that MassDOT initiated because this section of Route 9 is under the care and custody of the state agency. According to Reardon Riley, the project is a full-depth roadway replacement that will modernize the location to include features like new sidewalks, ADA compliant wheelchair ramps, improved drainage and landscaping. The project will also include the reconstruction of traffic signal systems at four locations, and the installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at two locations and a pedestrian hybrid beacon know as a High intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK) System.
She added that once the tree clearing work is completed, MassDOT anticipates that various utility companies will relocate overhead utilities and gas line replacement by spring. Following this portion, work on the water line will begin in late spring or early summer and the sewer work is anticipated to start in late summer or early fall. Reardon Riley reiterated the project is anticipated to be completed in April 2026.
Brennan said residents will start seeing activity to replace the pipes in the next two months. Until then, Hadley and MassDOT will finalize scheduling and planning for the project. As of now, MassDOT has been sharing weekly schedules with Brennan and the town, updating them of traffic impacts for the work currently happening, like the tree cutting this week.
MassDOT has been meeting with the Hadley Department of Public Works and other utilities in town on site leading up to the start of this project, even if still in the very early stages. This has allowed for communication on the project and its impacts on site to go on as they continue finalizing the overall plan. The project also will serve to widen areas of Route 9 as well.
The town administrator added that the area on Route 9 that would be mostly impacted from the replacement of the aging water and sewer lines would be from the corner of Middle and Russell streets all the way to East Street.
Brennan said there will be a meeting between different town municipalities and MassDOT on April 20 to discuss the replacement of water and sewer lines and finalize the project’s plans. Brennan said MassDOT assisting the town on this project will help save Hadley over $1 million of the $2 million due from the town for the project over the course of construction.
Brennan mentioned it has been a challenge mapping out the project as there are so many entities involved in town and with the state that have made it so this project is not yet totally mapped out other than the overall goal of replacing the water and sewage lines.
Once there is more info, the town administrator says she will continue to be adamant about keeping businesses and residents notified and up to date on ongoing construction on Route 9. Brennan did add that the project manager from MassDOT has been very responsive in letting her know information for the town when it is available.
“They can’t be too specific because of so many factors. Part of it is there’s so many entities involved,” Brennan said.